Corbalton Hall (formerly Cookstown House), Tara, Co Meath
Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.
p. 92. “(Corbally/LG1863; Corbally-Stourton, sub Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton, B.PB1970) A three storey C18 house with a front of originally seven bays and flanked by curved screen walls; to which a two storey villa by Francis Johnston was added 1801-7 for Elias Corbally; the older building and new being joined at an acute angle. The front of Johnston’s addition became the new entrance front: three bays, one bay breakfront centre; Wyatt window above single-storey Ionic portico; ground floor windows set in rather Soanian arched recesses. Johnston also changed the fenestration of the front of the old house to three bays and replaced the original staircase with a spiral secondary stair lit by a large polygonal cupola. His new block contained a large drawing room and dining room on either rside of a hall with a curved staircase extending into a bowed projection at the back. Along the front of the old house is an elegant glass conservatory with a curving roof; from its appearance, it would hav been added fairly early C19. Adjoining the house on this side is a handsome pedimented stable range, with a cupola clock. Inherited through his mother by Col Hon Edward Stourton, who assumed the additional name of Corbally’ and who sold Corbalton 1931.”
Not in National Inventory
Record of Protected Structures:
Detached house, three-bay two-storey over basement, 1801
by Francis Johnson, stableyards, walled garden, with lodges.
https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/corbalton-hall-cookstown-tara-co-meath-approx-358-acres-144-87-ha/4328846
sold around 1/9/20
A stunning Georgian villa at the heart of a magical estate. Completely upgraded and tastefully refurbished throughout. For sale in one or three lots. The property is approached via an impressive stone pier entrance leading to a driveway that sweeps amidst a mature, parkland setting. There is also a separate entrance to the yard. Lot 1 Residence and buildings on c. 53.01 ha, (c.131 acres) Lot 2 Lands. c.91.86 ha, (c.227 acres) Lot 3 The Entire – Residence/buildings and lands on c.144.87 ha, (c.358 acres) The accommodation comprises briefly; Entrance Hall – Inner Hall – Drawing room – Sitting room – Dining room – Kitchen/breakfast room – Garden room – Library – Cinema – Gym – Bar – Wine and beer cellars – Pantries – Utility and laundry room Store rooms – Lift Once considered only a basement today the lower ground floor is very much a part of the accommodation of the house containing both the cinema and gym. Master bedroom suite – Guest bedroom suite – 2 further bedroom suites Walled garden cottage – Coach house and apartment – Extensive garaging and outbuildings Formal gardens – Kitchen garden – Walled garden – Paddocks – Agricultural land In all about 358 acres. The tillage lands are currently all in winter wheat. Historical Note
Corbalton Hall was owned by the Corbally-Stourton family for over a century and a half until it was sold in 1951. It changed hands again a few years later and after being left vacant, it became somewhat dilapidated. It was then bought by a German couple who set about restoring it. It was subsequently sold again in 1999 to its current owner who undertook the major restoration and refurbishment of the property. A distinctive two storey Georgian villa, designed by the notable Irish Architect, Francis Johnston, better known for his work on Aras an Uachtarain, and built in the first years of the 19th century. The residence has a handsome three-bay façade, a breakfront centre and a Wyatt window above a single-storey Ionic portico. The house is dominated by a grand entrance hall with ornate plasterwork on the ceiling and a fine marble fireplace. It has an inner hall with a cantilevered staircase lit by a large stained glass window and there are two elegant reception rooms on either side of the entrance hall. The Grounds The residence is surrounded by parkland and there is a large, walled garden, beautifully laid out with immaculate hedges. The stable yard is built of attractive cut stone and is exceptionally well maintained, as is the entire property.
Sale of Corbalton Hall confirmed
Coonan Property and Goffs Property have confirmed the sale of Corbalton Hall, Tara, a period home on 358 acres in Skryne.
Purchased by a businessman for an undisclosed sum – the Georgian villa was originally designed by renowned Irish architect Francis Johnston over two hundred years ago. In recent times it has been thoughtfully and lovingly extended and restored to its current splendour by the educational technology entrepreneur Pat McDonagh and his family.
Coonan Property & Goffs Property say they were honoured to be instructed to handle the sale of Corbalton Hall in recent times.
“This rare treasure in Ireland’s heritage gives everything the county is most recognised for in one stunning package.”
Home for 150 years to the Corbally-Stourton family, it was bought 20 years ago by Riverdeep software businessman, Pat McDonagh, and his family. The family has now flown the nest, and the McDonaghs are downsizing from the 358 acre/148 hectare estate in the heart of Meath.
A three storey house was constructed on the Skryne-Ratoath road in the 18th century, to which a new wing was attached about 1801.
The two storey villa wing was designed by the distinguished Irish architect, Francis Johnston. It is suggested that the extension was as a result of the prosperity in the Irish corn market due to the Napoleonic wars. The older building and the new were joined at an acute angle.
Three vaulted rooms as well as associated walls of the original house were incorporated into the main 1801 house.
The Barnewalls held the property in the 17th century. Elias Corbally, a rich miller, acquired Cookstown about 1800 from a Mr White.
The Corbally family was Catholic and relative Bishop Plunkett of Killeen Castle was a regular visitor at their original home at nearby Sydenham.
Corbalton Hall is ensconced within fertile farmland in a County renowned as one of Ireland’s most prominent farming locations, this estate extends to approx. 358 acres (144.88 ha). At the same time however, it is well connected to amenities and has everything one both needs or desires within easy reach.
The joint agents said: “A true example of wholehearted stylish living in the most magnificent surroundings, we are certain that the new beginnings at Corbalton Hall will yield good fortune in every respect.”
The agents commented that: “A sale of this calibre shows there remains a demand for this type of property in the market currently plus we have a resilient marketplace given the testing few months we have just experienced. We wish the new owners every success in their new home.”
Corbalton was withdrawn from auction a year ago, guiding €11 million.
Poignantly, the funeral took place this week in Navan of Vicky Von Schmeider of Tara, whose family occupied Corbalton immediately prior to the McDonagh family acquiring the property.
Corbalton Hall, located between Skryne and Dunshaughlin, was home to the Corbally family. A three storey house was constructed in the eighteenth century to which a new wing was attached about 1801. The two storey villa wing was designed by the distinguished Irish architect, Francis Johnston. Casey and Rowan suggested that the extension was as a result of the prosperity in the Irish corn market due to the Napoleonic wars. The older building and the new were joined at an acute angle. Three vaulted rooms as well as associated walls of the original house were incorporated into the main 1801 house and are currently underneath a paved terrace. The front of Johnston’s addition became the new entrance front. The older section, called Cookstown House after the townland name, was demolished in 1970, leaving a gap between the stable block and the 1801 house. The farmyard was located away from the house on one of the entrance avenues.
The Barnewalls held the property in the seventeenth century. Elias Corbally, a rich miller, purchased Cookstown about 1800 from Mr. White. The Corbally family were a Catholic family and Bishop Plunkett was a regular visitor at their original home at nearby Sydenham. As a lieutenant in the Ratoath yeoman cavalry Elais Corbally was captured by rebels on the first day of the 1798 rebellion, but rescued by members of the Clonsilla yeoman cavalry. Corbally was active in various Catholic committees in Dublin and Navan attempting to secure better rights for Catholics. Corbally was a major contributor to the chapel at Skryne and donated the site for a new parochial house. In the 1830s Corbalton Hall was described as the elegant and spacious mansion of Elias Corbally, Esq., standing in a remarkably well-wooded demesne of about 1000 acres. Elias died in 1837 and is commemorated by a memorial in the ruined Rathregan church.
In 1817 Arthur James Plunkett, Lord Killeen, and later 9th Earl of Fingal, married Louisa, the only daughter of Elias Corbally of Corbalton Hall. The Plunkett family lived at Corbalton Hall and their children were born there. Arthur James, the eldest son of the 9th Earl, held the position of High Sheriff of Meath in 1845. A major in the 8th Dragoons he served at the Siege of Sebastopol during the Crimean War. William Plunkett was the third son of the 9th Earl of Fingal. Born at Corbalton in 1824 he joined the army, serving in the West Indies and Canada before joining the church. William was the first Irishman to join the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1851. He worked in Manchester, Limerick, Clapham, Scotland and Australia as a Redemptorist priest. Sir Francis Richard Plunkett was born the sixth son of the 9th Earl Fingal at Corbalton Hall in 1835. Francis joined the diplomatic service and served throughout Europe before being made Minister in Tokyo in 1883. In 1900 he was appointed ambassador at Vienna, a post from which he retired in 1905.
Matthew Elias, son of Elias, was born in 1791. Living until 1870 Matthew was M.P. for Meath, a justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for County Meath. Matthew married Matilda Preston, daughter of the 12th Viscount Gormanston in 1842. Matilda died in 1889 aged 72 and husband and wife are buried in the vault in Skryne church. They only had one child, Mary Margaret, who was born in 1845. Matthew is said to have planted 14 lime trees along the cowfield and asked his daughter to have as many children.
In 1865 Mary married Alfred Joseph, 23rd Lord Mowbray, 24th Lord Segrave, 20th Lord Stourton and they had ten children, six boys and four girls. In 1876 Hon. Mrs. Corbally of Corbalton held 5,033 acres in county Meath. Alfred Joseph died in 1893, aged 64, in Paris. Mary Margaret died in 1925 aged 79. Their son, Edward Plantagenet Joseph, inherited the estate in 1925 and took the additional surname of Corbally. He sold the estate in 1951.
https://theirishaesthete.com/2024/05/20/corbalton/
Corbalton
Corbalton Hall dates from 1801 when the house was designed by Francis Johnston. The foremost architect of the period, Johnston was responsible for some of Ireland’s most significant buildings, such as Dublin’s GPO and the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle, as well as many other country houses. His client on this occasion was Elias Corbally, a wealthy miller who bought the estate along with an older house, since demolished, called Cookstown. To commemorate his family, Corbally decided to name the new house Corbalton Hall. A flawless example of fashionable neo-classical taste, Corbalton is faced in crisp limestone, the two-storey facade defined by a freestanding Ionic portico. The windows on either side are set in shallow recesses with semi-elliptical fluted panels above them. Inside, the building follows a typical tripartite plan, with a central entrance hall flanked by the main reception rooms, accessed through meticulously finished mahogany doors. To the rear of the hall is the cantilevered staircase in pale Portland stone, the whole space amply lit by a generous bowed window on the return and leading up to a series of bedrooms.
Symmetry and order are paramount in Johnston’s neo-classical houses, so Corbalton Hall’s drawing room and dining room have exactly the same proportions, although the former has a large east-facing bow window offering views across the surrounding demesne. All the windows on this floor are set in shallow recesses holding the shutters, at the top of which can be seen a design detail typical of Johnston’s work: a fan-like fluted, semi-circular motif. In 1970 the original Cookstown House was demolished, leaving an empty space between Johnston’s villa and the stable block which he had also designed. At the start of the present century, however, an extension designed by conservation architect David Sheehan was added to the rear of Francis Johnston’s Corbalton Hall, on the footprint of the demolished building, thereby restoring coherence to the site. Fortunately the handsome stable yard survives and beyond it lie further work yards leading to a pair of substantial walled gardens (the first of them terraced), all essential features of a functioning country house.
It is worth noting that Elias Corbally was a Roman Catholic, and a keen campaigner for the repeal of the Penal Laws, together with full civil rights for members of his faith. As a result, the Corballys became associated through marriage with other notable Catholic families elsewhere in County Meath. In 1817, for example, Elias’s only daughter Louisa Emilia Corbally married Arthur Plunket, 10th Earl of Fingall who lived not far away at Killeen Castle which had only recently been enlarged and altered by Francis Johnston. The Fingalls had always been Catholic, as were the Prestons, Viscount Gormanston: in 1842 Elias’s son and heir Matthew married the Hon Matilda Preston, daughter of the 12th Viscount. In 1865 their only child, and Elias’s granddaughter, Mary Margaret Corbally would marry Alfred Stourton, 24th Baron Segrave whose family title went all the way back to 1283; like the others, his ancestors had always remained Catholic. Their son, Colonel the Hon Edward Plantagenet Joseph Corbally Stourton was the last of the family to live at Corbalton Hall, selling the property in 1951. It then passed through several owners before being acquired a few years ago by the present owner who has carried out extensive restoration and refurbishment work on the building.
Irish Historic Houses 
